Hannah's Emma Doll

When Aunt Sammy and I were little, Samantha had a "Joanna doll."  Joanna doll was a doll she named after her baby sister, of course (whom she called "Jo-nanna").  It appears that Hannah is following Aunt Sammy's lead.  Back in March, Ellie Mae bought Hannah her first doll.  At the time, Hannah showed little interest in the doll, but she gradually got more interested.  Hannah started pushing the doll in her toy stroller, changing its diaper, changing its clothes, and putting a hat and shoes on it.  Sometimes she would even tell the doll "no cry."  Lately, Hannah has started putting the doll in the baby swing (which we call the "baby rocker" so as not to be confused with real swings and elicit a request to go to them).

In the past couple days, the strolling and swinging has become even more deliberate, and Hannah seems to be reenacting actual mothering scenes (probably copying things she has seen while watching Daddy and I).  (This make-believe play has been increasing lately and I suppose it's very common for her age.)  Hannah will decide what the doll needs and bring things to her (like toys, the pacifier, etc.).  She decides when it's nap time and when the doll needs to eat.  She has also decided that the doll's name is Emma.  Ellie Mae and I asked Hannah what her doll's name is, and that's when she told us, "Emma."  Well, of course it's name is Emma!  Just like Hannah's real baby.

Yesterday, Hannah took care of her Emma doll by putting her in the rocker and bringing her all kinds of things.  She told me and Ellie Mae that it was not yet time for Emma doll to go down for a nap ("not yet," she said when we asked).  She also did not seem to appreciate me following her with the video camera and told me to "Go back.  Go back over there."



Hannah definitely has a mother's instinct, which is adorable.  I do have one small concern - she carries the doll by its head.  Now, I realize that she does not have quite the same dexterity as adults and that, eventually, she'll be able to carry a baby a little better.  But let's just say she won't be picking Emma up anytime soon.  At least not while we're paying attention...